Before he began sacking quarterbacks back in 2002 for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, Dwight Freeney did similar damage in college for Syracuse University. These days, he's asked all the time by his professional peers exactly when it will be that the Orange will begin winning football games again. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Syracuse, N.Y. -- As we're getting closer and closer to Syracuse University's football season opener on Sept. 1 (vs. Northwestern at the Carrier Dome), now seems like a good time to gain a little perspective from those with some special insight into the Orange.

And this is how we’ll do it: Our quarterly publication, Central New York Sports Magazine, features a Q&A format with CNY-connected sports personalities. The questions are solicited from our readers, presented to our subjects and printed on our magazine’s pages.

So, we've done a bit of culling. If you’ve already read some of these questions and answers, you’re invited to read them again. If you’re encountering them for the first time, enjoy.

(By the way, you can purchase CNY Sports Magazine at various outlets in the greater Syracuse area. Or you can subscribe to the digital version at syracuse.com/magazines.)

Today’s one-question-one-answer voice belongs to Dwight Freeney, who led the nation in sacks (17½) as a senior at SU in 2001 and is about to begin his 11th season as a defensive end with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. After having been chosen by the Colts with the 11th overall selection in the first round of the 2002 draft, he has played in two Super Bowls and has been selected to seven Pro Bowls.

The 32-year-old Freeney began will begin the 2012 campaign with 102½ sacks and 43 forced fumbles in 149 career regular-season games with Indianapolis. He signed a six-year, $72-million contract with the Colts in 2007 that made him, at the time, the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.

During his four years with the Orange, SU went 31-17 and to three bowl games -- Orange, Music City and Insight.com. Freeney’s 34 career sacks are second in school history behind Tim Green’s 45½.

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QUESTION:Since you have been in the NFL, you’ve traveled and met many players with various opinions about college football. What is the feeling out there about Big East football and, specifically, the state of the Syracuse University football program?-- Terry Mansfield; Elmira, N.Y.

DWIGHT FREENEY: "For me, it’s a little bit different because when I was in college the Big East meant Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College. Those were the big-time schools in the league, and that is no longer the case.

“So, to be honest with you, the Big East is rarely mentioned other than that fact that is isn’t what it used to be. As far as Syracuse is concerned, things are said to me all the time. You know, ‘When is Syracuse going to get back to winning football games?’ And they’re busting my chops when they ask, absolutely.”

Coming Monday, Aug. 20:Daryl Johnston

(In addition to his columns and "To The Point" observations, Bud Poliquin will begin virtually every morning, seven days per week, with an 8 a.m. offering of some kind or another on the Syracuse University football program. Look for it here on syracuse.com. Poliquin can be reached at bpoliquin@syracuse.com.)